Flushing device



June 25, 1963 J. STELTZ FLUSHING DEVICE Filed July 19, 1962 INVENTOR. (70322 51%;.

States Unite This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a flushing device.

More specifically, the invention proposes the construction of a flushing device for cleaning tanks having a deposit of foreign matter upon the bottom surface inside the tank.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved water tank cleaning device that is capable of flushing and withdrawing sediment, sludge and the like from the inside surface of the bottom area of a water tank with greater elfectiveness than any prior tank cleaning device known to those skilled in the art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a flushing device for use with water tanks, such as those used in the home, or the like, in which a novel and simply constructed nozzle means is manually actuated, the nozzle thereof being tubular to allow a water stream to pass therethrough and out its outlet end and having a fitting on its inlet end affording a connection with a garden hose or like conduit which is connected to a source of supply of water under pressure in a usual manner, the device further having a sediment discharge means associated therewith.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a hot water tank fitted with one embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2'is a view in perspective of a flushing device made in accordance with this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the flushing device shown by FIG. 2 and having parts in section, and a portion of garden hose associated therewith;

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective showing the bottom portion of a tank with the flushing device attached therewith; a fragmentary portion of the tank being shown by dash lines;

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective of a cap to fit over the inlet end of a T-shaped nipple and having a central hole therein to receive a nozzle therethrough;

FIGURE 6 is a view in perspective of a metal washer with a centrally located hole; and

FIGURE 7 is a view in perspective of a sponge rubber gasket with a centrally located hole.

In the accompanying drawing there is a water tank 15, which exemplifies any kind of tank, for example a hot water tank as used in the normal home wherein sediment, sand, rust, calcium chloride, scale, etc., accumulate on the inside bottom wall thereof.

A substantially T-shaped nipple 16, having a top section 17 and a depending section '22, said top section 17 having an inlet end 18 with external threads 19, an outlet end 20 with external threads 21, said depending section 22 integrall; formed with said top section 17 having an outlet end 23 with external threads 24 thereon. A section of drainage hose 25 is shown with a coupling 26 for attachment to threads 24 of depending section 22.

The cap 28 shown in perspective by FIG. 5 embodies internal threads 29 to fit upon threads 19 on the inlet end \18 of nipple 16. The nipple 16 is approximately 3 /2 inches in length with inch standard pipe threads,

the depending section 22 being approximately 1 /2 inches 6' atet marked thereon to indicate the the nozzle ice long with inch standard threads 24. The threads 21 on outlet end of section 17 are adapted to engage the internal threads of opening 30 in the lower portion of the side wall 31 of tank 15, said threads in opening 30 normally retaining a well known pipe plug not shown. Said opening 30 is an auxiliary opening adjacent the top surface 33 of wall 32 into which the flushing device is inserted without removal of heavy drain pipe 35 and fitting 36. Said cap 28 has a centrally located opening 38 in its flat surface adapted to receive a copper tubing 40. The tubing 40 is normally inch in diameter and fifteen inches in length, having a straight section 41 of 9 inches in length and an angular nozzle section 42 of 6 inches in length; the nozzle section 42 is normally arranged at 45 degrees relative to the straight section 41. However, this can be arranged to suit the actual job. Said nozzle 42 has a nozzle outlet 43 and said straight section 41 has an inlet end 44. A female garden hose coupling 45 is secured upon inlet end 44 of the tubing straight section 41 and secured thereon by setscrew 47 within extended square portion 48 with a direction arrow 50 direction that the nozzle 42 is extending relative to the straight section 41, so the operator will know the direction said nozzle is located even while inside the tank 15. A garden hose 60 with male fitting 70 is provided for clamping to said female unit 45. A rubber washer 62 is inserted between fittings 70 and 45. A metal washer 63 and a sponge rubber gasket 64 with central bores 65 and 66 respectively are assembled, as shown by FIG. 3, between the inlet end 18 of nipple 16 and the inner end wall surface of cap 28 to make a dry, tight removable connection. It is obvious that water under pressure within hose 60 will pass through tubing 40 as shown.

The tank 15 has the usual top member with cold inlet water pipe 76 and valve 77 and the outlet hot water pipe 78 and valve 80.

In use, the operator will close the valve 77 in the inlet water pipe to prevent more water from entering the tank. The tank will then be drained by opening valve 36 in drainage pipe 35. After the water has been removed from the tank 15, the standard plug is removed from opening 30 at the lower end of the side wall of the tank. The flushing device is then attached to the tank 15 by inserting the nozzle 42 through said opening 30 and screwing the threads 21 of threaded end 20 of nipple 16 into engagement with the internal threads opening 30. The garden hose 60 is connected to the male fitting 45 upon the inlet end of the tubing 40. Now the operator is ready to flush the sediment out of tank 15. Water is now supplied under pressure by said hose 60 which is attached to any water faucet near said tank. By drawing the tube back and forth and rotating from 0 degrees to degrees, the water under pressure will loosen the sediment, causing it to travel about in the bottom of the tank as shown by arrows in FIG. 4; then it will travel through the annular opening 88 about the tube 49 and within the open portion of the end 20 of nipple 16 after which it will travel through the depending portion 22 of nipple 16 and to the drainage hose 25, where it will be carried to a discharge point. The above procedure of moving the nozzle 42 around inside the tank should be repeated until the water leaving the hose 25 is clear. It is desirable to keep the nozzle as close to the side wall of the tank as possible to give a turbulent flow of water and sediment therein so it will flow out of the opening 88. Should the sediment clog the annular passage 88 about tube 41, the operator can correct this trouble by turning the tube 41 and pushing it farther into the tank 15; thereby the obstruction will be removed. Valve 36 can be opened whereby larger pieces of calcium sediment may flow out through pipe 35 if so desired. By this method, the tank has an inlet opening for the applicance and a small annular passage 88 about tube 41 and a second outlet through the pipe 35.

Various types of tanks will be found; however, it is only necessary to turn off the water supply to the tank, remove the auxiliary plug near the bottom of the tank, insert the appliance and force water into the tank through nozzle 42 and out depending portion 22 of nipple 16. A very successful cleaning operation is performed by this appliance and will save hours of labor by a plumber if called to remove water-hammer, concussions of moving water against the sides of a tank or pipe due to sediment and lack of air space. It will be noted that none of the piping is disturbed to flush out the sediment by this method; thorough and effective cleaning is achieved in the above mentioned manner.

It will thus be recognized that this assembly is particularly useful in all types of homes, stores, industrial plants, etc. where water plants are found.

While various changes may be made in the detail constnuction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flushing device for a water containing tank having a bottom, side wall, top and a threaded opening in the said side wall adjacent the said bottom, said device comprising a nipple type pipe fitting of substantially T- shaped configuration having a straight top portion and a depending tubular portion integrally formed between the ends of said top portion, a cap secured to the rear end of said top portion, said cap having a central bore in its flat end wall, an innermost water conveying tube sli-dably and rotatably extending through said bore in said cap, through said top portion and out the forward open end thereof, said innermost tube having its forward end portion extending angularly at an obtuse angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the central and rear end portion thereof, said forward end portion of said tube forming a water nozzle outlet whereby water under normal water pressure can be directed in various locations by turning said tube relative to said pipe fitting, the annaular space between said innermost tube and the said top portion forming a foreign matter annular passageway, the forward end of said top portion of said pipe fitting forming an annular foreign matter inlet coacting with said annular passageway, said annular passageway joining the cylindrical passageway inside said depending portion for conveying foreign matter and Water to the outlet of said depending portion, and a hose coupling secured to the rear end of said innermost tube adapted to receive the outlet end of a hose furnishing a source of water p v- V 2. A flushing device for a water containing tank having a bottom, side wall, top and a threaded opening in the said side wall adjacent the said bottom, said device comprising a nipple type pipe fitting of substantially T-shaped configuration having a straight top portion having external threads at both ends thereof and a depending tubular portion integrally formed between the threaded ends of said top portion and having exterior threads on it free end, a cap threadedly secured to the rear end of said top portion, said cap having a central bore in its fiat end wall, the threaded forward end portion of said top portion adapted to register with the internal threaded opening in the said side wall of said tank, an innermost Water conveying tube slidably and rotatably extending through said bore in said cap, through said top portion and out the forward open end thereof, said innermost tube having its forward end portion extending angularly at an obtuse angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the central and rear end portion thereof, said forward end portion of said tube forming a water nozzle outlet whereby water under normal water pressure can be directed in various locations by turning said tube relative to said pipe fitting, the annular space between said innermost tube and the said top portion forming a foreign matter annular passageway, the forward end of said top portion of said pipe fitting forming an annular foreign matter inlet coacting with said annular passageway, said annular passageway joining the cylindrical passageway inside said depending portion for conveying foreign matter and Water to the outlet of said depending portion, and a hose coupling secured to the rear end of said innermost tube adapted to receive the outlet end of a hose furnishing a source of water supply.

3. A flushing device for use with a water containing tank having a bottom side threaded outlet, said device comprising a nipple type pipe fixture of T-shape configuration, said fixture embodying a tubular body portion with external threads at each end thereof and a tubular outwardly extending portion integrally secured therewith intermediate the ends thereof and having external threads at its one free end, said body portion having its threaded forward end adapted to be temporarily fixed to said threaded outlet of said tank to extend outwardly therefrom during flushing, a cap secured to the threaded rearward end of said body portion and having a central bore in the end Wall thereof, an innermost tube substantially the size of said bore and having a diameter less than one half the diameter of said body portion slidably and rotatably extending through said bore, through said tubular body portion and out the forward open end thereof, said tube having its forward portion extending angularly relative to the longitudinal axis of the central and opposite end portions of said tube, means secured to the rear end of said tube for connecting said tube to a source of water under pressure, the annular space between said tube and the inner Wall of said body portion forming an annulus type flow path between the open inlet end of said body and the cylindrical passageway in said tubular outwardly extending portion for conveying water and foreign matter under pressure from said tank and through said cylindrical passageway, a removable packing gasket with a central bore assembled on said tube and between said cap and said body portion permitting said tube to slide and be retracted, said nozzle adapted for delivering a jet of water under pressure against the bottom interior sur faces of the tank, and means upon said tubing exterior of the body portion and outside said tank to indicate the angular direction of the nozzle within said tank.

4. The combination according to claim 3 wherein said means secured to the rear end of said tube for connecting said tube to a source of water embodies a female type hose coupling adapted to receive the male outlet end of a hose furnishing the water and the means on said tubing to indicate the angular direction of the nozzle which consists of a flat-sidedhub portion with an arrow marking thereon and forming an integral part of said female type hose coupling.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,328,726 Dezendorf Jan. 20, 1920 2,023,496 Todd Dec. 10, 1935 2,143,780 Kime Jan. 10, 1939 2,200,668 Carlson May 14, 1940 2,558,628 Redin .Q June 26, 1951 2,769,450 Colby -Q. Nov. 6, 1956 3,003,506 Wosicki Oct. 10, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 307,170 Great Britain Mar. 7, 1929 

1. A FLUSHING DEVICE FOR A WATER CONTAINING TANK HAVING A BOTTOM, SIDE WALL, TOP AND A THREADED OPENING IN THE SAID SIDE WALL ADJACENT THE SAID BOTTOM, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A NIPPLE TYPE PIPE FITTING OF SUBSTANTIALLY TSHAPED CONFIGURATION HAVING A STRAIGHT TOP PORTION AND A DEPENDING TUBULAR PORTION INTEGRALLY FORMED BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID TOP PORTION, A CAP SECURED TO THE REAR END OF SAID TOP PORTION, SAID CAP HAVING A CENTRAL BORE IN ITS FLAT END WALL, AN INNERMOST WATER CONVEYING TUBE SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY EXTENDING THROUGH SAID BORE IN SAID CAP, THROUGH SAID TOP PORTION AND OUT THE FORWARD OPEN END THEREOF, SAID INNERMOST TUBE HAVING ITS FORWARD END PORTION EXTENDING ANGULARLY AT AN OBTUSE ANGLE RELATIVE TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE CENTRAL AND REAR END PORTION THEREOF, SAID FORWARD END PORTION OF SAID TUBE FORMING A WATER NOZZLE OUTLET WHEREBY WATER UNDER NORMAL WATER PRESSURE CAN BE DIRECTED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS BY TURNING SAID TUBE RELATIVE TO SAID PIPE FITTING, THE ANNAULAR SPACE BETWEEN SAID INNERMOST TUBE AND THE SAID TOP PORTION FORMING A FOREIGN MATTER ANNULAR PASSAGEWAY, THE FORWARD END OF SAID TOP PORTION OF SAID PIPE FITTING FORMING AN ANNULAR FOREIGN MATTER INLET COACTING WITH SAID ANNULAR PASSAGEWAY, SAID ANNULAR PASSAGEWAY JOINING THE CYLINDRICAL PASSAGEWAY INSIDE SAID DEPENDING PORTION FOR CONVEYING FOREIGN MATTER AND WATER TO THE OUTLET OF SAID DEPENDING PORTION, AND A HOSE COUPLING SECURED TO THE REAR END OF SAID INNERMOST TUBE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE OUTLET END OF A HOSE FURNISHING A SOURCE OF WATER SUPPLY. 